Thomas crane



(No Model.)

T. GRANE. FOLDING TABLE.

10.468391. Patented Peb. 16, 1892.

Ynesse; In verz for;

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

CURTIS di GREENE, OF .SAME PLACE.

FOLDING TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 468,791, dated February 16, 1892. Application filed September 4,1891. Serial No. 404,742. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS CRANE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fort Atkinson, in the county of Jefferson and State of Visconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Tables, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to folding tables; and the invention consists in anovel arrangement io of the folding legs and attaohmentsall as hereinafter explained.

Figure l is a bottom plan view of the table folded up. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section on the line ce of Fig. l, and Fig. 3 is a i5 sectional view of a portion enlarged to more fully show the details for looking and unlooking the legs.

The object ofmy `invention is to produce a folding table in which the top can be ad- 2o justed at different heights and the parts be looked in position to dispense with the usual cross-bars connecting the legs and which can be folded up flat without detaching any of the parts and support the top equally each side of the center. To accomplish these objects I provide a suitable top A and secure to the under side thereof acleat or stay-bar near each end, as shown at b and b', and also a central bar I, arranged at right angles to the 3o bars h and b', as shown in the several figures, this bar I being of such a length as to leave a space between its ends and the cross-barst and b', into which the legs, withtheir braces, can enter when they are folded up against 3 5 the under side of the top, as shown in` Fig. l. As shown in Fig. l, this central bar I is cut away along one side to near its ends, the projecting shoulders'at the opposite ends of this recess each having a vertical groove o formed 4o therein, in which the ends of alocking rod or bar d rest loosely, so that it can be moved freely up or down therein, as hereinafter eX- plained. The top-thus arranged is mounted on a frame composed of two pairs of orossdegs B and B ,the legs of each pair being pivoted together at their center,but without any crossbar, with their ends resting and sliding loosely against the under side of the top A, which rests loosely thereon. To each pair of these 5o legs B and B is pivoted a pair of brace bars or links C and O', as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

At their upper ends these brace-bars are pivoted to the table-top at the center, the outer braces C being pivoted to the cross-bars l) and b and the inner ones O being pivoted to the ends of the central bar I, as shown in Fig. l, their lower ends being pivoted to the opposite legs of each pair midway between the pivot and the upper ends of the legs, as shown in Fig. 2. By this arrangement it will be seen that the upper ends of the legs are free to be moved to or from the center of the table, thereby raising or lowering the top, that both legs of each pair are caused to move uniformly in or out, and that consequently,

however they may be adj usted, the top will have its bearings on the free ends of the legs always at uniform distances from its edges, and thus be perfectly balanced on the legs, whether they be spread much or little. A 7o cross-bar ct is rigidly secured to the inner braces C and C to prevent any twisting of the parts, and by holding them firmly in po sition aid in their proper movements, as well as to render the frame more rigid and stable when adjusted and the table is in use.

In order to look the legs fast and prevent their spreading,I pivot a rod or bar D to the upper ends of the legs B at one side of the table-top, as shown in Figs. l and 2, and to this rod I rigidly attach a couple of bars E, which extend across under the top A, and which have in their upper faces a series of notches e c, as shown in Fig. 2, into which notches the locking rod or bar d drops and rests whenever the legs are so adjusted as to bring any one of the notches under it, and as the ends of this locking-bar d. rest in the grooves o of the central fixed. bar I it is prevented from moving sidewise, though free to be raised out of or be dropped into any` of the notches. \Vhen it rests in one of the notches c, it locks the legs fast and prevents them from spreading or moving in either direction. 9 5

To enable the looking-bar to be raised out of the notches c, I use a cord l, one end being fastened to the central bar I, as shown in Figs.

1 and 2, it passing under the locking-rod Z to near the edge of the top A, where it passes roc -in which there are no cross-bars in through an eye r, and has its end made fast to the under side of the table-top, as shown in Fig. 1, there being -sufiicient slack in the cord to permit the locking-rod to drop into the notches e whenever either of them are brought under it by adjusting the legs. To unlock it, it is only necessary to pull on the cord, whichwill raise the rod d out ot the notch, when the legs can be spread to lower the top or be brought inward to raise it. Vhen it is desired to fold the table for shipment or for setting it aside when not in use, the legs are simply unlocked and folded down iiat against the top, as shown in Fig. l, the pivoted braces causing the legs to move with uniformity both when being folded or unfolded. It will be seen that the legs themselves are not fastened to the top, except by the pivoted brace-bars, the upper ends of the legs simply bearing against the under side of the top, and when moved sliding freely along its under side. The bar D serves to tie the top of the legs B together, and that, with the rods or bars E, which pass through holes in the central bar I, and the braces C and 0"] or cross-bars b and b', keeps the legs in position and furnishes a stable support for the top. Another tie-rod may be ap plied to opposite legs B at or near their upper end, if desired.

By this construction and arrangement of the parts I am enabled to produce a folding table that can be adjusted at various heights, the Way, and which can be folded up fiat without detaching any ofthe parts and in the simplest manner, and that supports the top evenly.

I am aware that a table has been described in which the supports consist of two pairs of levers on each side, said levers being pivoted together in the manner ot the well-known lazy-tongs, the upper pairs of said levers v being connected to the table-top by a pair of 'the' pivoted braces C and C', one or more lvice with the cord Z, all arranged to operate substantially as described.

2. In combination with a table-top A, pivoted cross-legs B and B', connected centrally to the top by means of the pivoted braces, and means,subst.antially such as described, for adjusting and locking the legs in different positions, whereby the top is supported by the legs at points uniformly distant from the center whatever the adjustment for height may be, substantially as shown and described.

In witness whereof I hereunto set myhand in the presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS CRANE.

Vitnesses:

D. W. CURTIS, O. B. CORNISH. 

